Chances are roughly one in eight that a driver is uninsured, according to new estimates from the Insurance Research Council (IRC).  

After a seven year decline from a high of 14.9 percent in 2003, the countrywide uninsured motorist (UM) rate increased from 12.3 percent in 2010 to 13.0 percent in 2015. Idaho has among the lowest of uninsured motorists rates at 8.2% while Washington state is more than double that at 17.4%.  

“The drop in uninsured motorist rates in several states certainly is good news,” said Elizabeth A. Sprinkel, senior vice president of the Insurance Research Council (IRC). “However, the increase in the countrywide rate is a concern. IRC is exploring why uninsured motorist rates vary so much across states and why the countrywide rate is once again be on the rise.”

The report shows that Montana has 9.9% uninsured motorists and Oregon has about 12.7%. 

Other results of the study show the five states with the highest uninsured driver estimates were Florida (26.7%), Mississippi (23.7 %), New Mexico (20.8%), Michigan (20.3), and Tennessee (20%). The five states with the lowest uninsured driver estimates were Maine (4.5 %), New York (6.1%), Massachusetts (6.2%), North Carolina (6.5%) and Vermont (6.8%).

In this new study, The IRC report, Uninsured Motorists, 2017 Edition, IRC examines data collected from 14 insurers representing approximately 60 percent of the private passenger auto insurance market in 2015. 

Source: Insurance Research Council – news release